Charles Phillips: Tradition at Lincoln Park

It was just two days after Tiger Woods' victory in the British Open at St. Andrews in July that a charged-up group of 90 young men (14 to 17 years old) teed it up at Lincoln Park in the qualifying round for the championship flight of the 77th annual San Francisco Junior Golf Tournament.

Unlike the previous weekend in Scotland, the sun was not shining. Our San Francisco summer was here complete with fog, mist and drizzle.

George Ambrosio, his white beard moistened by the mist, looked more like Professor Dumbledore presiding over a Quidditch match at Hogwarts than a golf tournament director, as he watched over the Championship Trophy, which was on display at the first tee. It was beaded with moisture and a bit worse for wear, truly symbolic of one of the oldest junior golf tournaments in the United States.

At its peak, as many as 600 entrants participated in the tournament and it took three golf courses to handle the load. This year, the three-day event drew 160 kids, who took up the challenge of the sporty, old Lincoln Park Golf Course. Ranging in age from 8 to 17 and in all sizes, shapes and colors, the players came from all over Northern California; from Chico to Monterey.

As they trudged up the first fairway and disappeared into the fog under the weight of their golf bags, they were following in the foot steps of some world famous golfers who got their first win in this tournament; as well as a host of others who may not have won but gave it their best shot. Many parents, as well as a few grandparents and other assorted relatives, came along to provide transportation or caddy services or to observe and encourage their favorites. They seemed to be a happy, pleasant chatty group.

Over the years, legendary local names like Fry, Lotz, Vanier and Spaeth (he became president of the United States Golf Association-USGA) were inscribed on the Champions Trophy. Bob Rosburg, a P.G.A. great, won at Lincoln Park at 15. Johnny Miller, a US Open Champion, won the in the '60s and later walked the course when his sons participated. Ken Venturi and Tony Lema, both winners of major professional events, honed their games at the "SF junior."

And it's not just men. In 1952, girls entered the tournament for the first time and by 1962 Jan Ferraris, a local product, (who later became a professional), won.

This year in the match play final the championship was won by Spencer Fletcher, when he defeated a game Travis Peterson on the 19th hole of their match. In the '30s, the Marksky name was engraved on the trophy at least three times. In 2005 a Marksky made it to the finals and Chelsea Stetzmiller won the Anne Cullenwald championship in the girls division while Mona Lisa Ramos was completing the 36 holes of play in her division to post a 233 score. They were all winners Maybe some of these youngsters will be the stars of the future, but most of them will probably join the thousands of others who played over the last 77 years and choose other occupations.

But they will all share the memory of participating in a great San Francisco tradition.